*'''The Black Sheep Inn (Le Mouton Noir)''', 420 Riverside Drive, (819) 459-3228. [http://www.theblacksheepinn.com/] has become well known for top quality musical entertainment. Check listings in Ottawa Newspapers, such as the Ottawa Citizen or on their web site.

*'''The Black Sheep Inn (Le Mouton Noir)''', 420 Riverside Drive, (819) 459-3228. [http://www.theblacksheepinn.com/] has become well known for top quality musical entertainment. Check listings in Ottawa Newspapers, such as the Ottawa Citizen or on their web site.

+

*'''Prime Minister Lester B Pearson's Gravesite''' [http://www.pc.gc.ca/clmhc-hsmbc/pm/Pearson_E.asp]. Nobel Peace Prize recipient, former prime minister, and contributor to the founding of the United Nations died in 1972 and is burried in the MacLaren Cemetery, behind the Mill. Turn on Mill Road off of River Road and then turn Right on MacLaren immediately after the Mill. The cemetery is at the top of the hill.

*'''Wakefield Covered Bridge''' is an historic bridge that was burned down and reconstructed in 1996. Indicative of the area, the red bridge spans the Gatineau River near the centre of the village.

*'''Wakefield Covered Bridge''' is an historic bridge that was burned down and reconstructed in 1996. Indicative of the area, the red bridge spans the Gatineau River near the centre of the village.

*'''Fall leaves''' in the Gatineau Hills are incredible. Usually best in late September and early October, the whole region is a feast for your eyes.

*'''Fall leaves''' in the Gatineau Hills are incredible. Usually best in late September and early October, the whole region is a feast for your eyes.

Revision as of 14:49, 5 January 2008

Wakefield is a picturesque village on a lake in the Gatineau Hills near Ottawa. It is on the Quebec side of the river but is predominantly English-speaking.

Contents

Get in

By Car: Take any bridge from Ottawa to Hull or Gatineau. There are usually signs that say "Hull". Once in Quebec, the highway will be identified as Highway 5 to Maniwaki. Take Highway 5 North until the end. Then North on Highway 105 until the exit for Wakefield, at which you should make a right turn. It takes about 30-45 minutes depending on the traffic in Ottawa.

By Bus:Greyhound goes from the Ottawa bus terminal to Wakefield once per day and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. A return ticket is about CAD$15.

Get around

See

Walking trails around Wakefield.

The Black Sheep Inn (Le Mouton Noir), 420 Riverside Drive, (819) 459-3228. [1] has become well known for top quality musical entertainment. Check listings in Ottawa Newspapers, such as the Ottawa Citizen or on their web site.

Prime Minister Lester B Pearson's Gravesite[2]. Nobel Peace Prize recipient, former prime minister, and contributor to the founding of the United Nations died in 1972 and is burried in the MacLaren Cemetery, behind the Mill. Turn on Mill Road off of River Road and then turn Right on MacLaren immediately after the Mill. The cemetery is at the top of the hill.

Wakefield Covered Bridge is an historic bridge that was burned down and reconstructed in 1996. Indicative of the area, the red bridge spans the Gatineau River near the centre of the village.

Fall leaves in the Gatineau Hills are incredible. Usually best in late September and early October, the whole region is a feast for your eyes.

During the spring months, and "break up time", locals place a barrel on the ice of the Gatineau River. Bets are placed as to when this barrel will sink. Nothing spectacular to see, but if you look for it, it will be there.

Do

Tourist Attractions

Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train, 800-871-8246, [4]. Runs from the spring to fall with more frequent trips made in the summer and during the fall when the leaves are turning. Several local accommodations have special packages with the train, which was built in 1907. The train leaves near the casino in Gatineau (Hull) and takes visitors to the station in Wakefield where they are welcomed to a tour of the village before the train returns. Evening trips that include a decadent dinner can also be booked. Visitors should book in advance as the train gets full in peak season.

There are several small shops featuring local artisans and interesting articles.

Artists in their Environment, (819) 459-3233, [5]. Held in September each year and features many local artists. Visitors can tour the studios of local artists and acquire interesting creative works.

Outdoors

La Peche River near entrance to Gatineau Park in Wakefield

Gatineau Park can be accessed from the village and from several other locations nearby. Hiking, walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing trails abound. [6]

Walking Trails starting from several points in Wakefield Village will give visitors historical or nature perspectives. Groomed and marked baths run along the outskirts of the Village and can be accessed by MacLaren House, near the Mill.

Kayak and canoe in the Gatineau River or one of the hundreds of lakes in the area. Rentals can be arranged with Boutique Burro Borracho at 721-B Riverside Dr beside Solstice Books. Canoe trips can also be booked with Expeditions Radisson [8]

Snowshoe and dog sled trips can be booked with Expeditions Radisson [9]

Swim in the Gatineau River near the Wakefield Covered Bridge.

Buy

Eat

Cafe Molo, in the middle of the village, (819)459-1419. A cool little coffee shop serving cafe food for a reasonable price and great atmosphere.

Cheesy Luigi's Pizza, Valley Drive, (819)459-3999. Worth the stop if you want a fantastic pizza featuring unusual ingredients on an herbed thin crust. Think gourmet pizza when you stop in to visit Luigi.

Chez Eric is another great little place on Valley Drive on the way into town that has several innovative dishes.

Soupçon, (819) 245-1445, [10]. Serves up Asian fusion style food with plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Known for her Thai influenced food, chef Tanya is popular with locals and visitors alike. Main dishes are around $14 buy patrons are encouraged to try the wonderful appetizers too. A $1 "green fee" is added to the price to support purchasing from local sources for food and environmentally friendly products.

Drink

Sleep

Inns & Bed and Breakfast

Auberge de Mon Petit Chum Bed and Breakfast, 29 Chemin Burnside, (819) 459-1814, [11]. A charming place to stay and relax with owner Dawn near the core of the village and all its attractions. Dawn makes an incredible breakfast every morning to which you can awake after a good sleep in one of the four levels of rooms starting at $85 per night. Coffee and tea is available throughout the day as is wireless internet. Several innovative packages are available that introduce visitors to local restaurants, Ottawa area museums, outdoor activities, local music venues and spas.

La Grange Country Inn, 37 Chemin Rockhurst, tel: (819) 459-3939, [12]. A four-sun bed and breakfast close to the centre of the village. The attractive barn-style architecture envelops several rustic rooms ranging from $95 to $140 per night. Some rooms feature kitchenettes. The other attraction of La grange may be its regular yoga sessions.

Le Moulin, 2007

Le Moulin: the Wakefield Mill, 60 Mill Road, (819) 459-1838, [13]. The most upscale place you can stay in Wakefield and rivals the charm of any hotel in the region. Restored from the original mill, the Inn is situated a roaring part of the La Pêche River, which constitutes a small waterfall. Within five minutes walk, visitors are in the Gatineau National Park. Another five minutes in the other direction is the village. The Mill also features a spa and restaurant. Room rates start at $109 per night, including breakfast and several packages are available including dinner, historic train rides and spa packages.

Les Trois Erables, 801 Chemin Riverside, (819) 459-1118, [14]. A four-sun bed and breakfast located in the heart of Wakefield village. The building as the historic of the village doctor, constructed in 1896. Rooms are $129 to $199 per night based on double occupancy. This inn has a lovely grounds and is in a beautiful building.

Motels

Alpengrus Motel, 831 Chemin Riverside, (819) 459-2885, [15]. is a rustic European styled motel with 16 rooms starting at $70 per night for one person. Locals frequent the restaurant.

Pension Wunderbar Hotel, (819) 459-2471 is among the lowest cost places you can stay in Wakefield, starting at $55 per night for single occupancy, $65 for two ($75/85 for an apartment with wood fireplace).

Get out

North along Hwy 105 for about 20km will take you to Low, Quebec. A small town with a hockey arena.
Chelsea Quebec, known for the Gatineau Park, is the next town South on hwy 5

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!